Best not to dwell on that...

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Students entering college this year will not pay off their student loans until the second half of this century.

[vorlon13]

Especially the underwater basket weaving majors . . . .

[Fireball]

I must be from a different planet. I just don't understand how that much debt can accumulate. I worked the entire time I went to college and graduated debt-free. Of course, the GI Bill helped, but not that much. It might have taken another year to graduate if I hadn't had it.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I must be from a different planet. I just don't understand how that much debt can accumulate. I worked the entire time I went to college and graduated debt-free. Of course, the GI Bill helped, but not that much. It might have taken another year to graduate if I hadn't had it.

The day before I graduated, ~$100,000.00. Day after, $0.00. And no, you can't get that plan unless you already know how.

[John V]

Alpha's guide to college:

1. Choose a major that is likely to get you a good-paying job with long-term security, and that you're probably good at. 

2. Find a school that gives such degrees and is relatively low priced.

3. Ask that school what classes will transfer there from your local community college.

4. Get a job.

5. Go to community college, only taking classes that will transfer.

6. Finish up at school from Step 2.

[Anomalocaris]

:

good-paying job with long-term security..

The widespread delusion that good paying job with long-term security is probable based on some second rate education and is therefore the ticket, and a real education that facilitates flexibility and broad view is “too intellectual”, have a lot to do with the fact that those same “good-paying job with long-term security” tend to be fewer and afford even less “long-term security” then they otherwise might have.

[John V]

Yeah, because flexibility and broad view are highly sought after by employers...

[Aegon]

There are only two smart things to do now: go to college, but only if you get a degree that will land you in a "future-proof" job (one that can't be replaced by AI in 10-20 years) or go to trade school (because there are millions of openings that need to be filled but aren't.)

I think I did the first one. Unless somebody's in their garage working on a robot legislative/policy analyst right now.

[Minimalist]

Yeah, because flexibility and broad view are highly sought after by employers...

What employers want are people who work cheap.  The country is at full employment and wages remain stagnant.  Do you think that is an accident?

[John V]

What employers want are people who work cheap. 

No shit, Sherlock. That's why it's important to go into a field with high demand. My job isn't my passion (hence the time spent on this site), but I get a raise of 5 - 6% every year.